In 2020, only one in six Information and Communications Technology (ICT) specialists and one in three Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates in the EU was a woman. If those numbers double by 2027, the EU stands to benefit from an increase of between 260-600 billion euros in GDP.  

Moreover, the European Commission predicts that the EU needs 20 million ICT specialists by 2030. This means that Europe needs to double the number of employed ICT experts.  

This International Women’s Day, European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager shared a message on why women and girls’ inclusion is essential for Europe’s digital future. 

“It’s International Women’s Day and as you will know, there is a need for women everywhere, but also in technology. And right now, to a very large degree it is left for men. And would you ever leave the creation of the future just to one gender?  No, you would want to participate, you would want to be part of it. You would want to see women and girls, men and boys, everyone, to be on board in whatever identification they come.”  

“So, for every woman that engages in technology we have more diversity, we have better solutions for the public sector, the private sector, fun, games, shopping, administration, health, transport and fighting climate change. All of that technology can do. But we need many more women to come on board,” she highlighted in her message. 

To develop a digital infrastructure that improves healthcare, provides access to public and private services and protects the environment, Europe requires a diverse workforce that is able to understand the needs of all citizens. 

Innovation and technology play a critical role for gender equality. There is much to gain if women are included in Europe’s digital future, and much to lose if they are not.